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Young Adult Fiction General

For the Win

A Novel

by (author) Cory Doctorow

Publisher
Tor/Forge
Initial publish date
May 2010
Category
General
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780765333841
    Publish Date
    Sep 2012
    List Price
    $28.5
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780765322166
    Publish Date
    May 2010
    List Price
    $19.99

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Where to buy it

Out of print

This edition is not currently available in bookstores. Check your local library or search for used copies at Abebooks.

Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels

  • Age: 13 to 18
  • Grade: 8 to 12

Description

In the virtual future, you must organize to survive

At any hour of the day or night, millions of people around the globe are engrossed in multiplayer online games, questing and battling to win virtual "gold," jewels, and precious artifacts. Meanwhile, others seek to exploit this vast shadow economy, running electronic sweatshops in the world's poorest countries, where countless "gold farmers," bound to their work by abusive contracts and physical threats, harvest virtual treasure for their employers to sell to First World gamers who are willing to spend real money to skip straight to higher-level gameplay.

Mala is a brilliant 15-year-old from rural India whose leadership skills in virtual combat have earned her the title of "General Robotwalla." In Shenzen, heart of China's industrial boom, Matthew is defying his former bosses to build his own successful gold-farming team. Leonard, who calls himself Wei-Dong, lives in Southern California, but spends his nights fighting virtual battles alongside his buddies in Asia, a world away. All of these young people, and more, will become entangled with the mysterious young woman called Big Sister Nor, who will use her experience, her knowledge of history, and her connections with real-world organizers to build them into a movement that can challenge the status quo.

The ruthless forces arrayed against them are willing to use any means to protect their power—including blackmail, extortion, infiltration, violence, and even murder. To survive, Big Sister's people must out-think the system. This will lead them to devise a plan to crash the economy of every virtual world at once—a Ponzi scheme combined with a brilliant hack that ends up being the biggest, funnest game of all.

Imbued with the same lively, subversive spirit and thrilling storytelling that made LITTLE BROTHER an international sensation, FOR THE WIN is a prophetic and inspiring call-to-arms for a new generation

About the author

Cory Doctorow is a multi-award-winning science fiction author, technologist, activist and speaker. His novels include Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, Eastern Standard Tribe and the recently released contemporary fantasy, Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town.

Cory Doctorow's profile page

Awards

  • Nominated, Prometheus Award Nominee

Editorial Reviews

“A terrific read ... A cogently written, passionately felt argument.” —The New York Times on Little Brother

“Awesome…He's terrific at finding the human aura shimmering around technology.” —The Los Angeles Times on Little Brother

“A believable and frightening tale of a near-future San Francisco … Filled with sharp dialogue and detailed descriptions… within a tautly crafted fictional framework.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Little Brother

“One of the year's most important books.” —Chicago Tribune on Little Brother

“A wonderful, important book…I'd recommendLittle Brother over pretty much any book I've read this year.” —Neil Gaiman, author of The Graveyard Book on Little Brother

“A rousing tale of techno-geek rebellion—as necessary and dangerous as file sharing, free speech, and bottled water on a plane.” —Scott Westerfeld, author of Uglies, Pretties, and Specials on Little Brother

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